The Book of Rook

Chapter 31

ROOK

Instead of going to work, I go to Bishop's place. Looking at my watch, I know Tristan is teaching class so she should be home alone. Using my key, I walk in. The place is quiet. I help myself to her fridge like I always do and grab some cookies. I hear footsteps coming from the bedroom so I peek my head out of her fridge.

"Hey babe, I'm glad you're home early. Surprise," she says.

We both let out a scream for different reasons. She does because I'm not the one she was waiting for and I scream because my sister is barely wearing a see-through teddy. I immediately turn around and wish I had bleach for my eyes. No one needs to see their baby sister dressed like that.

"Goddamnit Rook. How many times have I told you to call first? I'm married now," she yells as I feel something hit me in the back of the head.

"Ouch." I look to see a pillow at my feet. "Can I turn around now, or do I have to go back to therapy?"

"Now you can you jerk."

Thank fuck she's wearing a robe but knowing how she's dressed underneath makes me want to throw up the bagel I had this morning for breakfast. "Hey sis." I walk up to her and plant a wet, sloppy kiss on her cheek. Just to be an annoying older brother.

She wipes her cheek with the back of her hand. "Yuck. You're so disgusting." She takes a seat on her sofa. "I was hoping being married to Phoenix matured you, but I guessed wrong."

I plop down next to her. "Nope, I'm young at heart." I send her my famous smile and she just rolls her eyes.

"What do you want?" Bishop asks, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Wow, suspicious much? Can't I visit you for the hell of it?" I try to ask innocently even though I do have an ulterior motive. She quirks up her eyebrow. Yeah, she doesn't believe me for a second. Must be a twin thing. "Ok, I'm here to invite you to dinner at my place tonight."

"And you couldn't do that over the phone?"

I place my hand over my chest. "I'm wounded. I thought you would love to see my handsome face."

She sticks her finger in her mouth and makes a gagging sound. "Conceited, much?"

I puff out my chest and smile at her. "You know I'm the cuter twin."

She gives me a shove. "Did you need something else or did you just come by to annoy me?"

"Both," I say as I grab her, putting my arm around her neck to give her a noogie.

She slaps my hand as she sits up and fixes her hair. "Idiot."

"Seriously, I came to invite you and Tristan to dinner tonight at my place to celebrate Phoenix's new job."

"Just the four of us?" she asks.

"Actually I invited dad also." Bishop smiles. "And Frances." And just like that, her smile is gone.

"You're kidding, right?"

I shake my head. "Phoenix has been hanging out with her and has enlightened me on some things."

Bishop crosses her arms over her chest and shakes her head. "Fuck that. I don't want to be in the same room as her. It's unfortunate we live in the same state, but New York is big enough for the both of us."

I have a chat with my sister and inform her of all the new information I now know about Frances. Plus, I did a little digging myself so I know she's a pretty decent person. Bishop was just as surprised as I was when I told her about dad going to grief counseling. After we spoke for about an hour. She willingly said she'd give it a chance.

"I've got to say bro. You are maturing. First with Frances and now with Phoenix."

"Yeah, well, I can't be a man whore forever. She got me to settle down."

"For now. This marriage is temporary, right? Just until you get the VP position." She looks at me like she knows a secret. Again, twin thing.

I let out a huff. "Can you keep a secret?" She just nods. "I didn't get the position." Why doesn't she look surprised. I narrow my eyes at her. "You knew." She nods her head. "How?"

"Angel let it slip and I swore I wouldn't tell."

"How the fuck did she find out?" I try not to yell but my stomach is going in knots right now. I have a sick feeling.

"When you told Phoenix..."

I cut her off. "I never told Phoenix. Our agreement was until I got the job and when I found out I didn't, I decided not to tell her until I could figure out a way to keep her." How the hell did Phoenix find out? Fuck, she knew and she didn't mentioned it. Maybe she wants to stay with me and can't figure out a way to tell me. This might work out.

I look at my sister as she's biting her bottom lip. She only does that when she's nervous. "Spit it out, Bishy."

"You want to keep her? Now I'm so fucking confused. I thought this was mutual thing." She slaps her hand over her mouth.

What the fuck is going on ? "I'm your brother and if this has to do with Phoenix, as her husband, I have a right to know. This is my life we're talking about."

She lets out a long huff. "Fuck. Ok. Listen, Phoenix met with her uncle Adrian a few days ago. She told him you didn't get the position..."

"Wait a minute. Isn't he a divorce lawyer?"

Bishop puts her hands on her hips. "Are you going to keep interrupting me?" She goes on but I'm not listening. If Phoenix knows and went to visit her divorce lawyer uncle, that only means one thing. "She's going to divorce me?" I didn't even know I said it out loud until Bishop puts her hand on my knee.

"I thought you both wanted it. This was a temporary thing. That's what I meant about maturing. I figured you were both remaining friends even through the divorce."

I stand up. "Like fuck I'm divorcing her. No way. She's mine."

Bishop looks up at me. "Do you love her?"

Of course I love her. I think I fell in love with her in Cancun. Great, I'm telling my sister I love Phoenix before telling her. "Yeah."

"Why didn't you say so when she gave you the papers?"

"Bishop, catch up. She never told me she knew about the job and she sure as hell didn't give me the divorce papers." I rub my hands down my face in frustration as I look up at the ceiling. "I've gotta go home."